Emergency Number: 911

The Communications Division of the Valley County Sheriff’s Office is made up of a communications supervisor, a corporal and six communication deputies. The Communications Division is responsible for taking requests for all emergency and non emergency services, including law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. The Communications Division is dedicated to the safety and concerns of the citizens and visitors of Valley County.

The 911 Communications Center is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for 911 calls placed in the City of McCall, Cascade and Donnelly and all of Valley County. Dispatching is provided for Valley County Sheriff, McCall Police Department, Cascade Police Department, McCall Fire and EMS, Donnelly Fire and EMS, Cascade Fire and EMS, we also work in conjunction with the Payette and Boise National Forest Services, Southern Idaho Timber Association, Valley County Probation, Idaho Department of Corrections Parole, Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Valley County Groomer, Valley County Search and Rescue, Life Flight, all city and county Public Work entities and surrounding County Law Enforcement Agencies.

The 911 Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Communications Deputies undergo a 16 week training period and are required to attend a two week training academy at the Police Officer Standards and Training facility in Meridian. We are all trained to become EMD’s ( Emergency Medical Dispatch) and obtain CPR certifications. They are also required to obtain continuing education in this area.

How do I know when to dial 911?

Anytime you find yourself in a situation that requires an emergency response from a law enforcement agency, a fire department, or an ambulance service you should call 911. As a general rule, if you face a situation where you are trying to decide whether to dial 911 or not, DIAL 911. It is always better to be safe than risk the chance of not getting the help you need, when you need it.

What can I expect when I call 911?

When you dial 911, your call will be answered by a 911 Dispatcher. The dispatcher will conduct an interview to determine the type of emergency service needed. Questions generally asked fall into key questions of WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and depending on the situation, WHY. It’s important to listen to the dispatcher and answer the questions asked. The dispatcher must ask you specific questions in order to ensure you receive the kind of help needed. It may seem that you are asked a lot of questions and that a lot of time has passed, however trained dispatchers will only ask questions that are necessary in getting you the proper help you need. This generally takes less than 30-45 seconds. Often times the dispatcher will start emergency response units and will return to ask the follow-up questions.)

What happens if I accidentally dial 911?

Misdials are sometimes experienced on 911. Often many misdials are realized after the number is dialed and the caller will immediately disconnect the line. This is what is commonly referred to as a “911 hangup”. If a connection was made, regardless if the line was not answered by the 911 operator, the PSAP will still receive the call. It is very important to remain on the line, even if you realize you misdialed. If you disconnect the line, the 911 operator must process the call as an unknown emergency, until otherwise determined.